A shiver caught in his throat as the dark mana stirred in the air.

  The figure didn’t move, but its presence pressed down on him like an invisible weight, making his circuits fre in response. His instincts screamed at him to either fight or run. Yet, his body refused to budge, frozen in pce. The dark mana twisted inside him, reacting to the shadowed figure in ways he couldn’t understand.

  "Who are you?" he asked, forcing his voice to stay steady.

  The figure took a slow step forward. The shadows around it writhed and twisted, as though darkness itself was drawn to its presence.

  "You bear the mark," the figure stated, its voice unreadable. "And yet… you are unfinished."

  Saaransh's eyes narrowed. The mark. That cursed mark again? What even is that mark? First, it was that shadowed hand… and now this stranger. What the devil does it signify?

  His fingers trembled, dark mana forming along them. "I’m asking you one final time. Who are you?"

  A low, menacing chuckle echoed through the darkness.

  "I am a long-time observer," the figure said, its eyes ancient and piercing as they locked onto Saaransh. "And I am the judge, to see whether you're worthy or not."

  In the blink of an eye, the figure vanished.

  There were no footsteps, no retreating motion. It was just gone, as though it had never existed.

  Saaransh’s body strained, the dark mana fring outward in a defensive burst. His eyes darted through the darkness, searching for any sign of the figure.

  But there was nothing.

  Only the rustle of the night wind and the lingering certainty that this encounter was merely the beginning.

  What the hell was that? A stranger? After seven years… why now? Why didn’t he appear before? His mind spun. And why… why did that presence feel so familiar? Like someone I had met… somewhere… long ago.

  His head was clouded with questions. Who was that shadowed figure? Why did it give off such wicked energy? And why did it feel like I’ve known it before?

  He exhaled shakily. Let’s leave it for now. I need to focus on strengthening myself. Right now, I need to reach my former level as fast as possible… or at least half of it. And I need loyal friends and companions this time. I will not let myself be stabbed in the heart again.

  He grabbed the left side of his chest, feeling the beat beneath his palm. "Damn it… I still vividly remember that day. Those bastards." His gaze hardened. I’ll find out the truth about that goddamn betrayal.

  "Let me try channeling this dark mana one more time," he muttered.

  He closed his eyes, steadying his breath as he focused inward, reaching for the sinister energy that had been dormant within him for years.

  The moment he tried to stir it, bzing agony shot through his veins, like molten steel poured into his bloodstream. His mana circuits convulsed violently in rebellion. A suffocating pressure bore down on his core, choking him from within.

  "Tch… what the hell?"

  He clenched his teeth, his knees trembling beneath the weight of it. It wasn’t pain. It was something deeper. Something was restraining him, binding him.

  A heavy, suffocating force pressed down on his very soul, tightening the more he struggled. The dark mana thrashed wildly, like a caged beast refusing to submit.

  Sweat trickled down his face. "Why won’t you listen to me? Why are you pushing me back? Just surrender already… let me flow this mana into my circuits! Let me use you!"

  Then, a whisper slithered through his mind, icy and taunting.

  "Not yet."

  And just like that, the dark mana retreated, pulling back deep into the farthest corners of his core, as though it had never been there.

  The crushing pressure lifted, but Saaransh colpsed to the floor, gasping for breath.

  He pressed a hand to his chest. "Shit… what the heck are you? What kind of being are you? Why do you feel so damn familiar? Who were you in my past life? Why have you followed me into this one?"

  His mind spun with questions.

  But there were no answers. Only silence. Only the faint echo of something beyond his understanding.

  Panting, he forced himself upright. "No one, no matter how powerful, will control me. I will make you submit."

  His hands curled into fists, nails biting into his palms as he anchored himself in defiance. The dark mana had mocked his weakness, denied him, but he wouldn’t yield.

  His voice was low, steady, filled with steel. "I will make you bend to me. I will use your power for my cause."

  A gust of wind swept through the training grounds, but Saaransh stood firm. His bck eyes burned with relentless fire. His heart pounded, not from fear but from determination.

  For my vengeance. To uncover the truth behind my betrayal. To rise to the top once again. I will use this power for my legacy.

  His mana stirred faintly, responding to his unwavering resolve. The darkness within him remained silent, but something shifted. The tiniest change. Like a hunter observing its prey, curious, perhaps even intrigued.

  He smiled through the lingering pain. "You will obey me one day. And when you do…"

  He lifted his hand. The dark mana shimmered faintly at his fingertips. He stared at it, his expression calm and resolute.

  "I will use your power to annihite all evil, starting with those who betrayed me long ago."

  The night wore on, heavy with unspoken challenges. The presence within him said nothing. But Saaransh knew this was only the beginning of the fight.